How Much Does Wikipedia Know About Author's Editing?

Wikipedia knows much, but it also needs much author's editing!

In the first place, the title "Author Editing" as entry (Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org) is not correct; the very first 3 words of the text under the title contradicts or corrects it:

An authors' editor is a language professional who works "with authors to make draft texts fit for (the) purpose". He or she edits manuscripts that have been drafted by the author (or authors) but have not yet been submitted to a publisher for publication.

It should be titled "Authors' Editor" – Wikipedia, this is your author's editor speaking!

The mistake is repeated in the 3rd sentence of the 1st paragraph, after my quote above:

This type of editing is called author editing, to distinguish it from other types of editing done for publishers on documents already accepted for publication: an authors' editor works "with (and, commonly, for) an author rather than for a publisher".

If "author editing" is correct, why did Wikipedia use "authors' editor" in the first very sentence (first quote above)? The ones (plural) who edited this Wikipedia entry are not consistent and I, author's editor, will have to set them right. But in fact, Wikipedia repeats the use of "authors' editors" afterwards.

I still prefer "author's editor." Singular. Not "authors' editor." Plural

In fact, a latter part of the "Author Editing" entry, Wikipedia cites the article entitled "The Author's Editor" by LB Applewhite published in 1973 in the first volume of the journal Medical Communications of the American Medical Writers Association. In 1974, Wikipedia says, an essay by Barbara G Cox had the same title published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Wikipedia also says the early papers used the term, so I will stick to "author's editor" and "author's editing" after this Wikipedia short essay of mine.

Wikipedia says, "An author's collaboration with an authors' editor begins after a manuscript has been drafted... The manuscript must be relatively complete, as author editing does not include the tasks of drafting or writing."

Wikipedia is limiting the role of the author's editor. As an author's editor, I help you draft your manuscript short of writing the whole thing.

Wikipedia says, "If authors need help conceiving, structuring or writing their text, then they require the work of a developmental editor or a writer." I disagree. As their author's editor, I will help conceive if they need my help, structure and guide them how to write their text.

Wikipedia says, "The goal of author editing is to help authors produce a clear, accurate and effective document that meets readers' expectations and that will be favorably received by publishers, journal editors and peer reviewers."

Correct.

"Therefore, authors' editors do both linguistic editing and substantive editing (editing of 'substance,' ie, content). They improve format, structure, grammar, style, data presentation, argumentation, flow and accuracy."

Correct again.

They query authors about unclear content, inform and educate authors about good writing techniques (called "didactic editing"), and engage authors in revising the text (they "elicit revision"). Rather than simply correct the text, they collaborate with authors by dialoging with them (through in-text comments, email, phone, internet telephony etc).

As author's editor, I prefer exchange of in-text comments, concerns and corrections (via Word 2013's Track Changes) – and email.

They may discuss the work with the editor, to learn why certain changes were made and to resolve issues that were raised during editing. After they have revised the text, they may resubmit it to the editor for an additional round of editing...

As an author's editor, I stop at 5 rounds of reading and editing, minimum. You cannot catch everything in 2 or 3 readings.

Wikipedia says, "Some scientists and clinicians may face difficulties composing an adequate text in a reasonable amount of time despite being excellent researchers." Correct. Writing is a different talent from research – the scientists are not trained how to write.

Wikipedia says, "Even skilled writers may benefit from author editing, especially when they are short of time and have ambitious publishing goals."

As a virtual assistant, if you are not publishing your writing and simply submitting the pieces to a virtual office, you will certainly benefit from the advice and assistance of an author's editor. Call me! frankahilario@gmail.com